CCBC, Fall 2014 School of Mathematics and Science

Biology Department, Essex Campus

BIOL 108: Investigating the Living World Section EF2
Course Description and Prerequisites
1
:
Provides an overview of the basic principles of biology from an integrated perspective; includes human
biology, evolution, genetics, and ecology.

4 credits: 3 lecture hours and 3 laboratory hours per week.

Prerequisite: ENGL 052, RDNG 052, MATH 081. Students may receive credit for only one of the
following: BIOL 100, BIOL 108 or BIOL 110.

I. Basic Course Information
A. Instructors:
Patrick Hahn (Lecture)
Adjunct office on 5
th
floor F Building
443-759-7404 phahn@ccbcmd.edu
Office hours MF 1:25-2:10 PM
Kathleen Callahan (Lab)
Adjunct office on 5
th
floor F Building
443-840-2667 kcallahan@ccbcmd.edu
Office hours W 10:30 AM 12:00 Noon
B. Department/School Phone Number: 410-918-4015
C. Class Times, Days, and Locations:
Lecture MWF 12:20-1:15 PM BESS 209
Lab W 1:25-4:20 PM F Building Room 713
D. Statement of Student Out-of-Class Work Expectations. These expectations are the minimal requirements
based on national standards and may not be decreased: in a standard 16 week semester, students are expected
to spend 2 hours per week, per credit hour on work outside of class. This is a four credit course taught in a 14-
week semester, and so you are expected to complete at least seven hours of work per week outside of the class
including reading, class preparation, homework, studying, etc. If this is an online section, an additional three
hours are required per week. Students: please note that these are minimal requirements for any course, and that
many students require more time than this for science courses.
E. Materials:
Required: For laboratory courses, appropriate clothing (including shoes which cover the tops of the
feet and have good traction) is required. See Course Procedures for more information:
Required texts:
Essentials of the Living World 4
th
ed. by George B Johnson
CCBC BIOL 108 Lab Manual
Optional supplies:
Safety glasses the department supplies limited numbers of googles. Goggles must be worn
during all experiments in lab.


II. Course Goals Overall
A. Course Objectives
1
:
Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:
1. Assess basic biological questions using current scientific literature. (I, VI, 1,4,5)
2. Develop a base of biological information on which to build as current discoveries are made.
(I, III, IV, VI, 1, 2, 4, 5)
3. Research current biotechnological advances in order to make decisions on moral and ethical
issues. (III, IV, 2, 4, 5)
4. Apply the steps of scientific methodology. (I, III, 2)
5. Explain the functions and interrelationships of the organ systems of the human body. (I, 1, 4)
6. Describe how cell structure and cell reproduction contributes to the functions of the human
organ systems. (I, 1, 4)
7. Explain ethnic diversity in the areas of genetic inheritance and disorders using Mendelian
genetics. (IV, V, 4, 6)
8. Determine how one's biological past has an impact on one's future. (III, IV, V, 2, 7)
9. Discuss how humans have developed in a direct relationship with their environment.
(II, 2, 7)
10. Explain the interrelationships between organisms and their environment. (V, 7)
11. Discuss the impact that humans have on the future of their environment. (II, III, IV, V, 2, 7)
12. Organize data into graphs and tables and employ basic mathematical skills to quantify data
where appropriate. (III, 2, 3)
B. Major Topics
1. Cell structure and function
2. Interactions between organ systems
3. Response to stimuli
4. Obtaining energy
5. Reproduction
6. Transmission genetics
7. Molecular genetics
8. Evolution
9. Conservation
10. Ecology
C. Rationale:
This course can be used to meet the General Education requirement of a four-credit course in the
science domain for general education. This course is recommended for students in the early
childhood and elementary education curricula.

III. Evaluation
A. Requirements: RDNG 052 and MATH 081
B. Instructors grading policy:
There will be three distinct units in this course. Each unit will require an activity notebook and an exam. In
addition, there will be a term project which may include classroom observations, internet research, or service
learning. A comprehensive final exam is also required.

Unit I Activity Notebook 100 points
Unit I Exam 100 points
Unit II Activity Notebook 100 points
Unit II Exam 100 points
Unit III Activity Notebook 100 points
Unit III Exam 100 points

Term Project

Service learning, interview, website critique, etc.

50 points
Comprehensive Final Exam 100 points
Total 750 points


BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT GRADING SCALE:

A 90 - 100% 675 750 pts
B 80 - 89% 600 674 pts
C 70 - 79% 525 599 pts
D 60 - 69% 450 524 pts
F 59 and below 0 449 pts

There is no grade for class participation.
There is no extra credit.

C. Instructors attendance policy: If you must miss a class, please obtain the notes from a fellow student and
contact me if you have any questions.

D. Instructors audit policy: : Important notes: (1) you can no longer wait until mid-semester to decide that
auditing a course is appropriate: the final date to change to an audit now coincides with the final date for
withdrawing with a 50% refund, The date for this semester to switch to audit is Tuesday, September 16, 2014;
and (2) failure to participate in the class as follows will result in a grade of W instead of AU.


IV. Course Procedures
A. Course-related policies and procedures:
Each student should obtain a set of colored pens or pencils for note-taking.
No food or drink is allowed in any Science lab at any time. Feet should be covered with
closed-toed shoes to provide protection from broken glass and other laboratory
hazards. Eye, hand, skin and clothing protection may be required when chemical or
biological hazards are present. Failure to abide by this policy will result in removal of
students from the class.
B. College wide syllabus policies: For college wide syllabus policies such as the Code of Conduct
related to Academic Integrity and Classroom Behavior or the Audit/ Withdrawal policy, please go to
the MySyllabiPolicies Tab on the MyCCBC page. Please pay particular attention to the following
sections of MySyllabiPolicies:
Attendance Policy
Code of Conduct for Academic Integrity
Grades AU (The last day to switch to an audit this semester is: Tuesday, September 16, 2014.)
Grades -W (The last day to withdraw this semester is: Wednesday, November 5, 2014.)
C. Contact information for course-related concerns: See endnote for contact information
2
.
D. Additional Procedures: No food or drink is allowed in any science lab at any time. Feet should be
covered with closed-toed shoes to provide protection from broken glass, spilled chemicals, and other
laboratory hazards.
Adequate protective clothing is required in the Biology 108 laboratories. This includes closed toed
shoes, long pants, covering at least to the knees, and short-sleeved shirts with no bare midriffs (in
other words, you must be covered shoulders to knees). If you prefer to purchase a lab coat, you may
do so at the bookstore. Additional eye, hand, skin and clothing protection may be required when
chemical or biological hazards are present. Failure to abide by laboratory safety policies will result
in removal of students from the class.

E. Course calendar/schedule: See the printed schedule appended to this document.
This syllabus may be changed with notification to the class.

Note that the content in these sections is dictated by the Common Course Outline for this course, as
approved at the college-wide level: [http://www.ccbcmd.edu/cco/home.html]
2
Students should first attempt to take concerns to the faculty member. If students are unable to resolve
course-related concerns with the instructor, they should contact contact Ms. Christine DeStefano,
Biology Department Chair, at cdestefano@ccbcmd.edu or 443-8402673






Biol 108: Investigating the Living World Projects

Purpose: The purpose of these projects is to give you the opportunity to:

1. Investigate resources for teachers of science.
2. Find out more about a career you have chosen.
3. Share your background, experience, and/or research with others.
4. Earn points toward your semester average in a non-test situation.

Grade Point Value: 50 points; select one.

Due: 12/08/2014
Students are encouraged to hand in the assignments early. 10 percentage points will be deducted for each day or
part thereof the assignment is late.

Project Options: (select 1)

1. Observation: Observe a science lesson. Describe the students, teacher, preparation required, materials,
effectiveness of the lesson.
2. Interview: Interview an elementary school teacher, preferably at the school. Find out as much as you
can about this career.
3. Service Learning: Give at least 10 hours of service tutoring.
4. NSTA Materials: Review 3 articles from NSTA publications. (Recommended: Science and Children)
5. Textbook topic: Pick one topic in elementary life science education and describe how this topic is taught
and developed over three consecutive grade levels OR how this topic is presented in three different
textbooks for the same grade level.
6. Journal: Keep a detailed journal of your question, insights, learning during this course. Make sure you
have at least 10 entries.
7. Formal Lab Report: Choose an investigative lab that you enjoyed. Add some original research and a
more detailed account of your methods and results. In the conclusion add some of your own insight.
8. Seminar Paper: Look through your textbook and pick a subject that you have always been interested in.
Read and prepare an outline for a lecture to pass out. Teach the class and be prepared to answer their
questions during discussion time.
9. Web Resources: Investigate and evaluate at least 7 WEB sites for teachers of biology. Describe the site
(you may also download it), critique the site, and include your personal reaction to the available
information.
10. Other: Create your own project (just get my approval).

Format: Each paper should consist of a minimum of 4 pages, typed, double spaced, one-inch margins. I
will look for depth and clarity. You are writing for me, about your topic, therefore it is okay to
use a conversational format, and/or it is okay to use first person pronouns.


SCHEDULE OF LECTURE TOPICS AND READING ASSIGNMENTS


DATE

TOPIC

READING ASSIGNMENT


08/27-08/29

Cell structure and function
Five Kingdoms
65-90
294-297
534-535
09/01 LABOR DAY NO CLASS


09/03-09/05
Metabolism
Cells and Tissues
Homeostasis
91-102
476-480
532-533



09/08-09/12
Digestion
Respiration
Circulation
Excretion


489-530
536-537

09/15-09/19

Nervous system

561-572

09/22-09/26
Endocrine system
Defenses against pathogens
Reproduction

543-560
583-605


09/29-10/03
EXAM 1
UNIT I NOTEBOOK DUE
DNA-RNA-Protein synthesis


189-222
10/06-10/10 How cells divide 133-158
10/13-10/17 Genetics 160-167
10/20-10/24 Genetics (continued) 168-188

10/27-10/31
Population growth
Evolution
249-284
381-382

11/03-11/07
EXAM 2
UNIT II NOTEBOOK DUE
Introduction to Ecology
375-379
387-402
416-417

11/10-11/14
Ecosystem structure and function
403-428

11/17-11/21
Human Impact on the Biosphere
451-472

11/24-11/26
Human Impact on the Biosphere
(continued)

TBA
11/28 THANKSGIVING VACATION NO CLASS



12/01-12/05
Human Impact on the Biosphere
(continued)
EXAM 3
UNIT III NOTEBOOK DUE



TBA

12/08
Review
TERM PROJECT DUE

TBA

Note: all page numbers refer to Essential of the Living World 4
th
ed. By George B Johnson.

SCHEDULE OF LECTURE EXAMS
09/29
11/03
12/05

Each units activity notebook is due the same day as the exam. 10 percentage points will be deducted for each
day the notebook is late.
SCHEDULE OF LABS

DATE LAB

08/27
Department Safety PowerPoint Presentation/Student Safety Acknowledgement/Quiz
Lab # 1: Lab Safety and Measurement

09/03

Lab # 2: Owl Pellets

09/10

Lab # 3: Microscope and Cells

09/17

Lab # 4: The Chemistry of Life

09/24

Lab # 5: Osmosis

10/01

Lab # 6: Proteins in Action: Enzymes

10/08

Lab # 7: Photosynthesis & Respiration

10/15

Lab # 8: Mitosis & Meiosis

10/22

Lab # 9: Mendelian Genetics

10/29

Lab # 10: DNA Structure and Function

11/05

Lab # 11: Biotechnology Lab

11/12

Lab # 12: Microbiology Lab

11/19

Lab # 13: Evolution & Lab # 15: Ecology

11/24

Lab # 14: Anatomy of the Human Body

12/03

No lab: work on Activity Notebook due 12/05